In the large expanse of Delhi, Noorie goes underground and discovers MEETHA world. She meets KINARI, India's first transgender rapper whose razor sharp lyrics and hypnotic beats are an expose of labor, lust, identity and rebellion. Noorie travels along with Kinari and Mithran, her manager, who tell her about their quest to construct a trans imaginary, which is genre defying,shape shifting, radical and fierce.

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In the past couple of years, KINARI has emerged as one of the foremost voices for the LGBTQ+ community in India's hip-hop scene. She celebrates her identity as a kinnar in her lyrics ("pretty avaz baby mai kinnar" on "PURRRRR") and also brings her firsthand experience in Portland's ballroom community to India (as on her debut EP Jimmy Vogue, released Nov 2021). Sampling disco tracks, riot grrrl rock, house music, clips from Paris Is Burning, and interviews with Indian trans activists consistently demonstrating a singularity of vision. Her hip hop mixtape 'Kattar Kinar', is a radical sonic expression of life in Delhi's Khirkee Extension. Intertwined with the beat of wedding bands outside her window, the coruscating pulse of gaana songs and cuts of Mari Selvaraj films, 'Kattar Kinnar' is a celebration of the present- a trans imaginary is found out on the streets, with the people, uncompromising and unafraid.

LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/album/2xlj0leSV6hezgrmEgh0ac

RT Samuel (Mithran) R T Samuel is an editor and independent cultural producer working between London and New Delhi. He is the co-editor of the collection, The Blaft Book of Anti Caste SF.

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Concept: Ekta & Angarika, maraa a media & arts collective

Voice of Noorie: Ekta & Angarika

Recordings: Gaurav Krishna & Ishan Gupta

Sound design: Gaurav Krishna & Advik

Design Concept: Ekta

Design & Illustrations: Thara Thomas

Video Podcast: Malavika Mishra

Production Support: Team Maraa

With support from Goethe Institut Max Mueller Bhavan